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The church met Sunday, April 27 to discuss plans for the proposed Worship Center to accommodate our continued outreach to the community. A final meeting will be held Sunday, May 18 at the Senior Center to decide if the church should proceed with the project.

"I was very pleased with the meeting," says Pastor Jeff. I had hoped for much stronger attendance at such an important meeting, but those who did attend were very positive. We had some great discussion and questions, even moments of humor! It was a great evening"

The evening began with a review of the the church's vision and some of the steps taken in recent years to promote growth. In just over four years, the congregation has grown from around 120 to nearly 600.

A number of changes have been made in terms of leadership expectations, approach to ministry and organizational structure. The church facilities have also undergone significant change" the outsides of the building were painted in late 1999, the sanctuary was completely remodeled in 2000, and many of the classrooms were painted. The nursery was relocated and renovated and now it is bursting at the seams needing further expansion.

"We're simply our of room," the Pastor says. "As we continue to grow, we will probably be forced to move off of this property. For now, we just need a 'middle step' that will allow for continued growth."

The new 12,000 sq/ft worship center will seat 500 and feature state-of-the-art line array sound system, duel video projection, and theater lighting. The 2.600 sq/ft addition will house new restrooms, a larger foyer area, a prayer room, and bookstore. The site development will include extensive landscaping and 115 off-street parking stalls. A potluck dinner will be held at the senior Center on May 18 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a brief meeting. "Attendance at this meeting is obviously very important," Pastor Jeff says. "This is a major undertaking and we need to see the church united and in full support if we are to proceed." Those who are members should plan to attend but everyone is welcome and encouraged to ge there.

Easter is bunnies, colored eggs, fancy clothes, but more importantly, Easter marks the cornerstone of Christian faith, the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Easter is probably the most important day of the year. As Christians, we recognize that everything we believe hinges on the reality of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday," explained Pastor Jeff. "Christ's resurrection proved that Jesus was not simply a prophet or teacher, but that he truly was the son of God." To start off the Easter celebration, First Baptist Church held a Maundy Thursday celebration in which the church body gathers together for a light meal followed by an evening devotion. This devotion is brought to life with Pastor Jeff recounting the events leading up to Jesus' death from the perspective of a Biblical character. "Each year, I've done a dramatic monologue portraying different Biblical characters. I've portrayed the Roman Centurion, the Apostle Peter, Judas and this year, "Doubting" Thomas," explained Pastor Jeff. The evening is representative of the Lord's Supper and concludes with the celebration of Communion.

The festivities continued with an outreach to the children on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. About 80 children attended and were entertained by decorating Easter baskets and coloring eggs, sheets and salvation bracelets. The day continued with a "bunny-hop" race, story time with Teresa Caudell and a huge Easter egg hunt in which the homemade baskets were put to good use. Lunch was provided for all who attended.

The special meaning of Easter was brought home with an Easter service held under a big tent. The power of music, song, worship and the Pastor's message was felt in two services with a combined total of 800 people. Praise God! "Easter is usually the highest worship attendance for the year. Many who do not regularly attend a worship service will come out on Easter, so it is an important opportunity for us to share the Gospel," explained Pastor Jeff. "Easter is the single most important event in history and it is something that we, as believers, will celebrate for all eternity!"

How can we love others as Christ loved us? By helping when it's not convenient, but needed. By devoting energy to others, rather than ourselves and best of all by being faithful servants to Jesus Christ our Lord.

A special thank-you goes out to all who got involved and helped in making these festivities successful and fun. Sincere gratitude to Reagan Tuman for organizing the children's Easter celebration, Shelley Norris for organizing the food for Maundy Thursday and for those who helped with the set-up on Saturday and who helped move things back after services on Sunday.

Also, because of concern of possible vandalism to the tent, several people spent the night "guarding" it. Phil and Nina Truax spent a couple of nights in their RV and Tom Butts, Steve Martin, Rick Krick, and Tim Johnson spent the night Saturday after all the equipment was moved in. Thank you all for your help!!!

Most probably recall the Kevin Costner film, Field of Dreams. In the film, Costner builds a baseball diamond in his corn field because a haunting voice promises him, "if you build it, they will come." In the end, Costner, to the dismay of family and friends who believe he's lost his mind, follows through and constructs the field. Then from out of the corn rows walk all the great players of the past: Ty Cobb, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, and others.

Now, I have to admit, I never really understood the movie, and to be perfectly honest, I don't particularly care for Kevin Costner. But hose words, "If you build it, they will come," became the catch phrase of the nation. Businesses, governments, entertainment and even churches laid claim to the promise and with the very best of intentions and million of dollars, many fine structures were built - BUT, they didn't always come.

Nearly four years ago, we set a new course with the aim of reaching as many people in Kings County as we possibly could. Much has changed in recent years in terms of leadership, organizational structures, purpose, and vision. Even our facilities have experienced significant change. And thankfully, God has richly blessed our efforts. We've watched the church grow from around 120 in the 1990's to an average of 550 today. In fact, we are now one of the fastest growing churches in our denomination. Our mission support, which totaled $2,400 in 1999 will likely exceed $40,000 this year. And most importantly, we've witnessed over 130 professions of faith through baptism, from young children to senior adults!

Certainly no single individual, group or program can account for all of this. I believe we've experienced God's blessing because we pursued God's vision TOGETHER. Simply put, when God's people embrace God's purposes, God does a great work. Now, as we can be assured of God's continued blessing only to the degree that we remain united in spirit and purpose.

That's where the "If you build it..." comes in. There is no guarantee people will come just because we build it. But, if we are united in purpose; If our goal as a church is to keep seeking and saving the lost; If we see the building as a tool and not the goal; If we keep praying and inviting; And, if we do it all our of our love and commitment to Christ and each other --THEY WILL COME!

On May 18th at 6:00 p.m. we'll gather the church together in the Senior Center and enjoy a potluck meal together. Then, we will pray, ask God's leading, and make the decision whether to proceed or not. This is quite possibly the most important decision this church has made in 40 years so it's important that you come. And, if you are a member, let me be more direct - as your Pastor, I expect you to be there. If you have prayed and believe this is God's will, then you need to be there to vote yes, If, on the other hand, you've prayed and believe there's a better way to reach the lost, then you need to be there and vote no. Whatever your opinion, you are part of the family and with God's help we will decide on this matter together.

As for me, I obviously support the building proposal. Some, no doubt, look at the time, effort and money that will be needed and say, "what's the point?" Nevertheless, I do believe it's time for us to take a God-sized step. And, you may think I've lost my mind, but something tell me, "If you build it, they will come!"

May 11, 2003 A number years ago, while working for Quinn Caterpillar, I was studiously engaged in the process of rebuilding a transmission for one of our customers. As I read the reassembly procedure in the service manual, I saw out of my peripheral vision, a friend and fellow mechanic, Tom, walking toward my area. He would have passed me by without incident, but instead, just as he walked directly behind me, I turned around and started barking quite ferociously at him. Needless to say, he was quite startled at my outlandish behavior. After all, a grown man barking at you doesn't happen every day. I then went on to inform him that he was on "my turf". We had a good laugh at my strange antics and then got back to
work.

Basically, this world and it's godless systems belong to him. That must be true otherwise, it would have been no real temptation when he offered to give Jesus all the kingdoms of this world (cf Matt. 4:1-11).

I suppose in some strange way, we ought to be thankful that he at least `barks' at us. Perhaps it means we pose some sort of threat to his turf. Maybe we should be concerned if he doesn't bark. I remember my dad once saying, in jest, that some people are so worthless the dogs won't even bark at them.

Some Christians have gone AWOL in terms of their commitment to Christ and unfortunately they no longer pose any real threat to the god of this world. The advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has stopped being of any great value to them. There is an old adage that goes like this, "Nobody is totally worthless. If nothing else, you can always serve as a bad example."

If Satan's barking, at some point, has caused you to loose heart for serving the Lord, let me encourage you to once again join the ranks of God's people. Your children, your friends, your family, and your co- workers need to see that your faith doesn't falter just because some things have gone poorly for you lately. Resist giving in to the barks of discouragement, fear or despair.

If your walk with the Lord has been somewhat lacking lately, take heart. Our Father has that ol' mongrel on a leash. Satan can do nothing without Gods divine permission.. So keep on advancing amidst all of the barking! Let's face it, a bark never really hurt anyone anyway.

Pastor Jeff or a member of the staff brings a teaching on leadership issues. If you lead a ministry team or are interested in biblical teachings on leadership, join us each month for these encouraging sessions.

On Sunday, June 8th at 12:30 p.m. we will be offering our CLASS 201. If you have completed the CLASS 101 Discovering Membership seminar, you are encouraged to sign up and continue on your journey in Discovering your Spiritual Maturity. Please call the church office or use the communication card to register.

If you have joined the 'Dine with Nine' groups and have not received your list, please call Verna Norgaard at 924- 8943 so she can get your list to you.

Adultery - murder - intrigue, sound like the latest mystery novel? Not quite, how about the story of a man after God's own heart . This summer Women of GRACE will study the life of King David. Based in 1 and 2 Samuel and the Psalms we will reflect on David's experiences and personally examine our own attitudes, motivation, actions, character and heart. You will come to understand that when God touches a person, He always touches the heart.

This 6 week study will begin on Thursday, June 19th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note - this is a change to Thursday nights. No day time study will be offered this summer, but we will return to our regular schedule in the fall.) Limited child care will be available. To order a study guide or for more information contact the church office 924-3458, Sherry Kristenson 924-5756, or Lori Martin 924-5180.

That's the theme of the women's retreat this year. We are so excited to have such a large group of women who have signed up this year. We were able to secure the Lodge and even had to reserve a cabin for 10 more. If you would like to go but have not signed up or paid your deposit, please contact the church office so we can call the camp and make arrangements to see if there are any more spots available. We need to have all deposits and registration forms in the church office no later than July 27, 2003. Please contact the office if there is any problems or if you just need more information, 924-3458.

Just a reminder to all the men in our congregation. We have been having a great time of fellowship and Bible Study every Thursday night in the church Fellowship Hall. We start at 6:30 pm with pizza and soft drinks and then we get some wonderful teaching about God's Word. All men are invited to join us each Thursday.

Summer is just around the corner, although you couldn't tell by the cold and rainy weather we are experiencing. With summer comes the highly anticipated and popular Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church.

This year, VBS will be held August 4 through August 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. for children ages 3 through 5th grade. This will all happen on the church grounds, however, this particular week the church will be transformed to a deep sea adventure. This year's theme is S.C.U.B.A. which stands for Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventure where kids dive into Bible adventure of people who went deeper in their faith.

"There is nothing like experiencing a child who comes to know Christ personally. VBS is a great opportunity to share the good news in a fun and exciting way with the children of this community," said Reagan Tuman, director of VBS. Children will participate in fun and creative ways of bringing the Bible to life. Powerful music, worship and drama will get kids excited about God. There will be splish splash games (expect to get wet), dive-in diner(snacks), undersea crafts, sing and play splash and deep Bible Adventure.

"We pray about this ministry and try to select the theme that bests shares the Gospel and will be exciting and fun for the kids," explained Reagan. "It is awesome to see the excitement on the kids faces as they learn about Jesus." "It may be their only opportunity to hear the word of God. It is really a spiritual revival," said Kathleen Butts, assistant director of VBS.

In order to make this year's VBS as fun and exciting as years past, your help is greatly needed. Scuba Crew Leaders, Preschool Crew Members, Snack and Craft Crew Members and volunteers for registration, games and nursery are in high demand. "We need over 100 volunteers to make this a success. We will also need donations of craft and food items. Look for a sign-up sheet in the foyer and in the June newsletter," said Reagan. "Everyone in the church can be a part of this ministry by simply praying for it." This is, also, a great opportunity for teens to volunteer and earn their community service

credits. Volunteer? What better way to spend your free time than sharing the Gospel!!

Parents, don't forget to sign up your children for these lifesaving lessons that are reinforced in every activity. If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact the church office at 924-3458 or Reagan Tuman.

As our 1st Awana year comes to an end, we want to thank each and every one of you who have played a part in making this year so special. Many of our leaders and helpers have never been involved in Awana before and, we must say, they have truly done an outstanding job!

We only have two more Awana "Wednesday" Nights and we want them to be unforgettable, so, on May 7th we will be having a 'Water-Day' ( make sure you bring a beach towel). Our last official night is May 14th and we will be having an 'Ice Cream Night'. We will need parents to volunteer to bring ice cream and some toppings so our clubbers can enjoy an ice cream sundae! Please see your child's leader if you are able to donate any items needed to make this a great evening for everyone involved. Thank you all so much for your participation as well as your generosity! Finally, on Sunday, May 18th at 4:00 pm, we will be having our AWANA Award Night! We hope that all who have taken a part in this ministry will be able to join us as we honor those children who have worked and studied hard to get through their Awana handbooks. The scripture memorization that these children have taken on is simply amazing! If you have never stepped in and listened as some of the children repeated their verses, you are missing a great blessing. Each one of the clubbers work very hard to learn God's Word!!

There will be an Awana meeting on May 4th at 4:00 pm to discuss our 2003/2004 Awana Year. We will need many leaders, helpers, directors, and volunteers so, please, be in prayer about your participation in this great ministry for our children and our Lord and Savior. We pray that God will continue to bless our church and all of its ministries that bring glory to Him.

Hard to believe May is here! We had a great time at the Zoo at our April playdate. Despite the threat of rain many brave souls headed up to Fresno and had a great time! We'll be having a regular playdate at the church on Monday, 5/5 at 10 a.m. Our second playdate is scheduled for 5/19 at 10 a.m. and we've planned a POOL party at the church. We'll have several wading pools for the children to splash around in. Come join us for some outside fun during the month of May! Call Tamara Lennard at 924-1934 or Kellie Heidt at 924-5789 for questions or more information.

We will hold our quarterly meeting on Sunday, June 1st at 12:30 p.m. This will be a key planning meeting for the 2003/2004 year. We will have the new curriculum for both Sunday School and Promise Seekers available for your review. We will also be discussing Promotion Sunday and the space and class size issues we are facing. All Children's Ministry volunteers are strongly encourage to attend. Lunch and child care will be provided. Please call the church office at 924-3458 or Lori Martin at 924-5180 if you will need child care.

Timber Mountain has turned into an island! Come and search for heavenly Treasures and find the "Nuggets" in God's Treasure Chest. Climb aboard on chapel times with exciting music, skits, and lessons on the treasure that God has for each one of us. Explore the climbing wall, archery, BMX bikes, bb guns, hiking trails, and incredible crafts. Swim in our lagoon, dig for gold on a treasure hunt, and embark on our thrilling games. You won't want to miss out on this Island adventure. The time has come for YOU to travel to Treasure Island.

There are many different dates available for those who are interested in attending 'Treasure Island'.

Primary 1 August 10-13

Primary 2 August 13-16

Jr. Outreach 1 June 8 - 14	Timber Junior 1 June 15 - 21
Timber Junior 2 June 29 - July 5	Timber Junior 3 July 6 - 12
Timber Junior 4 July 13 -19	Timber Junior 5 July 20 - 26
Timber Junior 6 July 27 - Aug. 2	Jr. Outreach 2 August 3 - 9

Check-in begins at 3:00 pm on the first day of camp and camp concludes at 9:30 am on the last day. To register or find out more about this great adventure, please contact Tina Peabody at 924-4353 or call the church office.

If you have a desire to help out with young people, have we got a group for you!! We are in need of mature adults who have a desire to help train and disciple the youth of FBC. Ron is searching for committed Christians who might be willing to lead a Bible study, give a testimony, or just show up to help the youth group during their ROCK or XTREME gatherings. He is also in need of an adult female who could chaperone young girls during the Mexico Mission Trip this June!

Lighthouse is a group from grades 4 - 6 and they are in need of a person who feels God calling them to lead this group each Monday night. If you would like to help in any of these student ministries, please give Ron Tuman a call!

People in Thailand worship spirits. They will make offerings at certain trees in the village or to figures on small shelves in their houses to request help from the spirits that are there. They will also put a Spirit House in their yard to appease spirits of the land and place offerings on it

Often when someone becomes a Christian the church will go to his or her house and clean out any spirit worship objects. Sometimes they pile it in the front yard and smash it and pray over it. This can cause problems with neighbors or with other people in the house who are not Christians.

When we first moved into Payamengrai we rented a house across the street from a family that had been Christians for about a year. Chan and Nuan had a spirit house in their yard. While we were cleaning our house and preparing to take some things to the dump Chan came and asked if he could put his spirit house on the truck to go to the dump. We asked if his wife knew what he was doing and Chan replied that they had talked about it.

When they first became Christians they still put offerings on the spirit house but as time went on they found themselves praying and asking God for help. As their relationship with Jesus grew they started to find a new center and a new source of strength in their lives. The spirit house and what it represented became less and less important to them until now they didn't need it at all.

God takes each one of us and molds us to His image. It doesn't happen all at once and we need to learn to trust Him and turn various areas of our lives over to him, but in loving and wise ways He brings us closer and closer to the image of Jesus Christ.

As American Baptists we are reaching out to people in Thailand with the love of Jesus Christ that changes and transforms their lives and draws them closer to him.